Hadith 59
The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"The likeness of one who comes early to prayer is that of one who sacrificed a camel, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a cow, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a ram, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a chicken, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed an egg."
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَأَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَغَرُّ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، حَدَّثَهُمَا . أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْمُهَجِّرِ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يُهْدِي الْبَدَنَةَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي عَلَى إِثْرِهِ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الْبَقَرَةَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي عَلَى إِثْرِهِ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الْكَبْشَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي عَلَى إِثْرِهِ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الدَّجَاجَةَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي عَلَى إِثْرِهِ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الْبَيْضَةَ
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.